The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-23

UNLIKE any other government ON the (
face of the globe, this Nation is compell- !
ed 10 cast about for methods 10 reduce its
too redundant revenues The rebellion
created necessity for immense sums
of money and taxation in almost every
form, was resorted 10. With rapidity
that is marvellous in the eyes of other ma
tons, our immense debt has been yearly
decrea sed, while the taxes have been as
steadily reduced until now, not yet a
quarter Of a century since the war closed,
We find still superintendent revenue,
and necessity for It's reduction. The
only remaining war taxes are those
on whiskey and tobacco, and the free
traders, who want TO cripple the indus
tries Of the country, insist that these tax
es shall be- allowed to remain and that
the necessary reduction shall be made on
tariff duties that protect the manufao-
turers and labOrers of the country from
foreign competition. This will he the all
importan, question in the coming Con-
gr,.ss, and il j. semi-otlicially announced
from Washington that the President in
his forthcoming message, Will take
ground in favor Of partial reduction Of
the tax on tobacco, amounting 10 a few
million dollars, while he will advocate
n sweeping reduction OF tariff duties, and
that this viii be urged a. an administra-
iion measure. dissent from which will be
deemed party treason. The issue, viii
therefore be: shall the taxes ON whiskey
and tobacco, which annually Yield a new
enue of more than one hundred million
OF dollars, be abolished, OF snail that
amount be deducted from the tax on
foreign manufactures imported into this
country Or, in other words, shall We
collect that sum from foreign made goods
that seek our market. or shall We impose
II upon our own productions, Tor the ben
efii of foreign manufacturers In this
connection il is well enough to recall the
fact that, previous to the election of Mr..
Cleveland, there was a persistent demand
made by the Democrats that the taxes
on whiskey and tobacco, the poor mans
luxurics" should be wiped out Now.
however. 1t il insisted thar these taxes
shall be retained. because thereby il is
hoped to force reduction Of the tariff,
in the Interests Of Free Trade. Twice
has the attempt been made in the House.
TO strike down the protective duties i'm
posed by the present tariff, and both
times il has been defeated, and now the
third effort is 10 be made, backed by all
the power anc influence of the admins
iraiion. This time, however, il is TO be
accompanied with the proposition to
abolish part Of the tobacco tax. provided
assent be gwen 10 a reduction of protec-
tive duties. But, why abolish the tax on
tobacco and retain il on whiskey2 Both
are luNuries ~ contra-distinguished from
the necessaries of life II one is 20 be
released from taxation, why not release
the one, that by reason of III taxation
has been enabled 70 form an arrogant
monopoly, the most odions In the land.
whose power Is used 10 corrupt and N
fiaence legislation That liquors should
be taxed, and heavily taxed Il admitted,
and their sale should be guarded by the
most stringent Of laws, but this should be
done by the States. The National gov
eminent taxes them but il places no re-
siraints on their use orabuse. ltlicenses
Their manufacture and sale TO any one
that will pay the taxes, but ii paws no
share of the expenses consequent upon
The crime and I~uperisin that follow
irom their excessive use. Pins burden
the States alone have to bear, and they
alone should exercise the mower of
license and taxation Their taxation hv
The general government wsss necessity
growing out OF the mos costly war of
modern tllnes. waged Tor the life of the
Nation, and the necessity having pass.a
he tax should be abolished. There il no
question of morals involved in the iaro-
Aron on psnitaAnce OF taxes on liquors by